Volume buys at Melville Park Herefords

Lot 27, Melville Bull P562 (PP) sold for $11,500 and Mr McClure, Nareen, said the bull had great temperament and good structure.

"He had really good growth, positive fats, easy doing, deep and thick and a really good sort of bull," Mr McClure said.

The bull was sired by Bowen Kyooma K27, who was also the sire of last year's top-priced bull.

The Beerik Partnership has been buying Melville Park Herefords for around 20 years and Mr McClure has seen the stud make gains.

"David's probably got a bit more depth and shape and doability in his cattle, more positive fats, which is where I think the industry is heading," he said.

Mr McClure said he was also impressed that Melville Park was verifying both the sires and dams of all its stock.

Melville Park Herefords principal David Lyons said he and wife Olwyn aimed for, "nice, soft, easy breed cattle with good milk, growth and carcase data."

The stud cattle run with the commercial herd but all stock were meticulously recorded.

"We record birth weights, 200, 400, 600-day and all the carcase tests," Mr Lyons said.

"I'm a fair way through doing the tests for all the diseases through Herefords.

"We're doing everything the Angus people do."

Mr Lyons said he was grateful for the support of volume buyers.

Coorabil Pastoral Co, Coleraine; E and A Stephens and Sons, Ballarat; Shallum Holdings, Casterton; and Wypanda Company, Mirranatwa, each bought two bulls.

Dismal Swamp, Mt Gambier, purchased three.